Coastal Contractor

Products

Pocket
Primer

Priming all end cuts is an essential step for prolonging the life
of paint or stain on exterior wood trim or siding. That's more
convenient if you carry End Cuts in your pouch — a handy
4-ounce bottle of VOC-free acrylic primer with a leakproof
sponge-applicator end. Whether you're on the staging or manning the
chop saw, just swipe the freshly cut end with the sponge tip for a
prime coat that will block the uptake of moisture into the end
grain in service. For more information, contact Ze-VO Products
Group, 508/879-3151, www.zevoproductsgroup.com.

New Trim Styles

CertainTeed is broadening its palette of durable cellular PVC
exterior trim elements with six new molding profiles in the
Restoration Millwork line, including lattice, J-channel brick mold,
and adjustable backband. Also new: 12-foot trim boards in various
lengths, and 11/2-inch-thick sheets and trim boards that make it
easier for craftsmen to rout and machine their own deep profiles
for custom trim looks. For more information, contact CertainTeed,
800/233-8900, www.certainteed.com.

Synthetic Stone Backer

Brick, manufactured stone, and stucco provide great durability
against the weather, but they have a critical vulnerability to
windblown rain. Under wet conditions, the porous materials and
mortar joints typically let water behind the hard cladding, where
moisture can wreak havoc with vulnerable wood sheathing and
framing. For that, Benjamin Obdyke offers Mortairvent, a two-ply
system that uses open polymer mesh to create a ventilated drainage
space, faced with filter fabric to keep mortar droppings from
clogging the open space. Installed over code-compliant housewrap or
building paper, Mortairvent helps the space behind mortared
claddings drain and dry, for long-term durability of the entire
wall system. For more information, contact Benjamin Obdyke Inc.,
800/346-7655, www.benjaminobdyke.com.

Rugged
Efficiency

Wisconsin window-maker Weather Shield targets the coastal market
with a line of windows and patio doors that combine impact-rated
glass with a high-tech array of energy-efficient options. The
company's LifeGuard impact-resistant windows meet ASTM Standards
E1886 and E1996 for resistance to windborne debris. But on top of
that, Weather Shield offers close to the ultimate in
energy-efficient glass with its proprietary Zo-e-Shield Coastal
glazing package. Advanced energy-conserving window elements include
multiple low-e glass coatings, an inert gas between panes, and a
warm-edge nonmetallic glazing spacer. Units are aluminum-clad for
exterior durability and offer a choice of five wood species or a
custom prefinish for beauty on the inside. For more information,
contact Weather Shield, 800/222-2995, www.weathershield.com.

Wind-Resistant Synthetic

Want the look of natural slate, but without real slate's heavy
weight? Take a look at Inspire Roofing, a synthetic polymer and
limestone blend designed to resemble the shape and color variations
of natural slate. Inspire assemblies have passed the 110-mph test
in the Miami-Dade County Protocal TAS 100-95 for resistance to wind
and wind-blown rain, and the manufacturer says calculations
indicate that the material will comply with International Code
requirements for wind speed zones up to 150-mph (with some building
height restrictions in the highest wind zone). For more
information, contact the Inspire Roofing Products, 800/971-4148,
www.inspireroofing.com.

Amped-Up Sawzall

If you like your Sawzall but want more power, consider Milwaukee's
latest upgrade: the 15-amp Super Sawzall Reciprocating Saw (model
6538-21), which the company says is now the most powerful
reciprocating saw on the market. The just-launched tool comes with
several enhancements besides the extra amps: "constant power
technology" to maintain constant speed under load, a
"gear-protecting clutch" in case your blade gets pinched, and a
"counter-balance mechanism" to damp down vibration, reducing
fatigue for the user. For more information, contact Milwaukee,
800/729-3878, www.milwaukeetool.com.

Easy-Nailing Bead
Board

Rotproof, bugproof, and resistant to salt spray, cellular PVC trim
and siding products also offer the advantage of being machinable
like wood (for on-site tips, see "Not Just a Pretty Face,"
January/February 2006, www.coastalcontractor.net). The uniform
consistency of cellular PVC lets it take on some shapes that wood
can't match. A case in point is Stealth Bead Board from Versatex,
part of an exterior architectural product lineup that includes
window and door trim, sheet goods, and siding starter boards. Ideal
for porch ceilings or wainscot details, Stealth Bead Board comes
with a new, wider nailing flange, offering quicker installation for
nailgun-toting production carpenters (with the accuracy of a
positive tongue-and-groove fit). The easy-to-hit wide tongue has no
knots and grain to split or crack the way wood might. For more
information, contact Wolfpac Technologies, Inc., 724/266-7928,
www.versatex.com.